Dear high school band seniors,

This time last year, I was experiencing my lasts in everything. My last first game, my last competition, and my last football game. Senior night is coming up for some of you, and for some of you, it has already passed. It seems like your last year has gone by too fast, I know. And I look back on all of the memories I had in high school marching band, and you can't help but wish that you could just get it all back. But, life moves on.

Be the leader you can be.

If you still have performances left, don't slack. The younger band kids look up to you and need someone to lead the way. You know what you're doing, or at least should know by now. Be the best leader you can be and set good examples for the classes under you.

If you don't get along with someone, fix it before it's too late.

End your band career on a good note with everyone, and yes, that includes your band director. You don't want to have any regrets, so if you're fighting with someone, fix it.

Take pictures. Lots of pictures.

Take lots of pictures to look back on. You'll want to have those memories for life. Take as many pictures as you can, so you can look back and laugh at and remember some of the best days of your life.

Do band in college. Just do it.

Take it from me, please be involved in band in some way after high school. If you're going to a community college, take a look and see if they have a band program offered, or look at other colleges. Some colleges have programs where you can attend your community college, and be involved in the band at a four-year institution, just like mine. You don't have to be a music major, and you'll make some of your best friends for life. I'm not going to lie, it's not the same as high school. It's a little different, but just try it for a year, and if you don't like it, then it's okay!

Let your band director know how much you appreciate them.

He or she helped you to become the person you are today in some way, so thank them for that. They have invested so much time in you to make you a better musician, and a well-rounded person. They didn't have to do that, but they chose to. They chose to spend so many hours during school, after hours, and on weekends, to push you to be the best you could be. So, just thank them. Thank them for investing in you.

Marching band is such a special thing to be apart of. You are more than a group or team, you are a family. And that family is going to be with you for the rest of your life. So, don't take these last few months for granted. Spend as much time as you can with your band family, because you will miss them more than you could imagine. Push yourself to the best of your ability, and never settle for anything less than the best. Take it from someone who's been there.